Bottle closure



June 14, 1960 c. A. scHuLTz BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed NOV. 17, 1958 INVENTQR CHARLES A. SCHULTZ :p KQQL, LA). LOCKS ATTORNEY United States Patent i BOTTLE CLOSURE Charles A. Schultz, New York, Nil., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Lok-Seal, Ine., New York, N-Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 7 74,193

10 Claims. (Cl. 21S-48) greatly in order that they may be reduced to such a size lthat they may be inserted into the neck of the bottle. Y The corks extend a substantial distance into the bottle neck, and because of their tendency to resume their original size, they exert a substantially great expansive force against the interior of the bottle neck. This eiects the necessary seal so that neither gas nor liquid may pass out of the bottle.

The compression of the corks and their insertion into the bottle necks is an expensive operation. It is accomplished most rapidly and most economically at the present time by machinery that is only semi-automatic, so that'a relatively large amount of-manpower is required to insert the corks into the bottle necks. f

After the corks have been thus inserted, itis the univer- `sal practice to insure their retention in the bottle; against the internal pressure of the gases within the bottle, by a wire anchor. The placing of the wire anchor on the cork and the securing of it to the neck of the bottle is another expensive operation. Here again, the best and most etlicient equipment available is only semi-automatidand accordingly considerable manpower is required to placefthe wire anchors on the bottles. v

As expensive, laborious and time-consuming asy theV above operation is, it is universally used for the bottling of champagne and is the most used sealing arrangement for other types of wine. This is true despite the fact that workers in the art have produced bottle closures made of other materials and having substantially different characteristics from the cork and wire closure above described.

It may therefore be seen that the eorts of the prior A or were expensive to fabricate, or did not lead to any` economical advantages by their use, or did not provide for a truly secure seal. Another reason for the rejection for the prior closures' was that they were diicult to manipulate, either during the sealing operation, or during the opening operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure for bottles of champagne and similar lbeverages lthat is made of readily available material, and is easily `and economically fabricated. l Another object of the present invention is the provision of a'closure for champagne bottles and the like that may These cork Stoppers are made from a high Patented June 14, 19760 be inserted into the necks of bottles by anv economical operation. j

A still further object of the present invention isfto provide a lclosure that will insure the sealing of the bottle. ,n

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a closure that may be readily secured to and removed from the neck of a bottle.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the neck of a bottle having the closure. of the present invention mounted thereon. .y A

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

gFig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of F ig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. l the neck 10 of a bottle having the closure 20 of the present invention inserted and secured thereto. As may be seen from Fig. 2, closure 20 comprises a stopper 21 that is made of polyethylene. Polyethylene is a relatively soft and resilient plastic that is readily available, and may be easily molded. The stopper 21 has a hollow axial extension 22 that has a plurality of ribs 23 on the Vexterior thereof. The ribs 23 are shown partially afttened in Fig. 2, since they have compressed during'the insertion of the stopper 20 into the neck 10. At the` uppervend of the extension 22 is an outstanding annular lHarige 24. The under side of the flange 24 is in surface to surface contact with the lip :11 of the neck 10. Above the ange 24 is a relatively thick walled, hollow crown 26.

A known securing member 30 forms a part of the closure of the present -invention, the member 30 comprising a'metal cap having a top v31 with'acentral hole 32 theren'through which: the crown 26 extends. A peripheral side wall 33 depends yfrom the top 31 and extends downwardly past the flange Z4. The side wall 334 is furcatedgatits lower part, asrmay'be seen in. Fig. 1, and the furcations 34 thus formed arecurled as shown at 35. A fastening wire 36 extends through Vthe curled parts 35, and is held thereby. A lever 37 is pivotally attached to the'ends of the wire 36, and in known manner maybe rotated from the position shown through approximately Duringthis rotation, the wire 36 4may haveits `ends` drawn Vcloser together, or permitted to `Vspread frlther apart, to thereby reduce or enlarge the diameter of the wire l36. This Vwill lock or release lthe closure, as thecase may be, under the bead 12 at the top of the neck 10. The securing member 30 is known per se, and its `construction and operation are therefore not set forth in wall 43. The crown 26 of the stopper 21 extends lp-v wardly into the bore defined -by the interior wall 43, 'and the hard polystyrene teeth 44 extend into the soft polyethylene crown 26. It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the teeth 44 have their'lower surfacesupwardly slanted, and theirV top surfaces substantially, horizontal.V Apdonrne 46 rises from thegripping member' 41 and coversgv'er the upper Iend of the head 40. Holes 47 are provided' liseoflanylspecialtools or devices. 'I t will -be obvious' to those skillediuthe that o s.changes1may be made withoutdeparting "fwmthe irit of theinvention andlth'erefore theinventioniis .not ",'limitedito what iss'hown'in the .drawings and'rlescrbed "inthe specification but only as .indicated in .the appended i fwhatis grained is: Y l l' Y Y n LLIA closure furthe neck ofr a bottlecomprising a the head 40 and stopper V21.. Y Y

The closure of the present invention isV so Vconstructed caddy-rapidly .economicallygachievedt by:. t h f use .lofrelativelystandard .production techniques. .Si-n lilarly,Y

the metal cap may be economically produced, Oncefthe i three separate parts .of,therclosure.20, have-bcenlnnade Qtheymay he assembled in large numbers atflowcos the Y Yassembly operation beingsimplyth'e ylowering of ,the cap v over thecrown Z'ofrthe stopper 21,; and thenthe .driving'ofvthehead Mloverthe crownZ. f'lheslanted lower @faces Yof .the teeth .40 willperrnit .relative` longitudinal movement of the head 40 into 'assembled position. on the vent withdrawal of-the head 46 from the stoppe-n.21,

since the .teeth 44 willbe .embedded .in the crofwllfzz.'

VYOn'ce the stopper'Q has "been thus assembledg' ,it. is

i .Y-..Ieady. .for placement in the neck of a bottle. The lever "37`is movedto the position in which the fasteningwire s t antial sea1ing'engagement of the stopper.. `2 1 withthe -nulely Sealed .fitter the 'closure' .20 Lhasf' .been ...driven VThome sothatthe angeft rests, 0.1i Stile Llip v.1:1 fof the neck ..gf tl 1 e bottle, thejlever 37 vis rotated into lits lodkinglpofsition 41nd thus the diameter .of .thejfastening wire f 3 6" is "reduced and the metal securingmeniber'30-is .then "firmly attached to the bottle.V Removalof fthe .closurelli 'from a .,.bottle'ibythe ultimategpurchaser is both simple .andV

easy.' The lever .is simply' mov`ed1frorri the locking p o-V ,lsitiQn :to 'the release posigip'n. f 'lhis causes the securing Y lfmenlber 3 0 to become inactive.V lyfpushing inwardlyV 'the thumb .on Vthe,g'rrpuameinher 41, `andl aided .by .thegpressure within ...the bottle, heen-tire closure@ 'may V"be removedifmll Ythe neck A1.0 .O 'the bottle, .the eittens'ion 1.12.2 being .Withdrawn from .thegnecknassa'ge ,atlthis time.

. lfanid 'the-.like beverages that. isV ,econ'oruical1yiabligated,Y bth`fr0m`tl1c .standpoint of manufacture of .the `Vcrl- 'gstituent parts andfrornjthe viewpoint of assembly ,of these vf p'arts.V The assemblageof theclosure of thefpresennlin- ;ye'rition onto the .neck of a bottle may be accomplished xtreme economy,YV and'thus completely eliminates The closure un utornat-ielequipmentnow inns'e, jtne presentinvenrinn is easily.reinev *witnougthe .polyethylene stQPne'rQhai/ingr an .externally :ribbedyhollw said f ange; Ysaid Yside Y wall being furcatefd at its lilowr l'ddianiete gofsaidffasteninglwireto.therebyloclrsai jlofsure underline bead .atthe 1915 v.of .-thefneck-of :albume andra? V75 :with .the.upper.. snrfac e of. the vtop ofasaidmetallibap #and @namens `-axial extension, anfoutstandingannulanange atf the upper Y Eend o'fjsaid extension,V andairelative'ly thick-walled, hollow polygonal'crown above Ysaid nange', Yasecuringzllernher Y 'Comprising ametal'cap having atop, a'holeggin said top for `receiving said crown; ajperipherallyextending side gwall f ending from said Vt0n .and extending'dewnwarilyrpast' Y ypingimexnber having a shoulder at the lower end vthereof for'engagement with the upper surface of the top of said metal cap and an interior wall of a complementary shape to said polygonal crown,Y a plurality of teethY extending 5 inwardly from the interior wallof said annular gripping member, said teeth having inwardly and upwardly inclined lower faces andgenerally horizontal upper faces,` said crown ,extending upwardly YintoY the bore of said gripping member and Vsaid Vteeth being embedded in said crown, and a dome having an airpassagetherethrough rising from said gripping member and covering over: the upper end of said head. Y i 2. A closure'forthe neck.ofabpttlecomprising a relatively soft stopper having an externally ribbed, hollow '1 5 axial extensiom'an outstanding annular flange at the upper end of said extension, anda relatively thickewalled, hollow polygonal crown above 'said ilange, a securing member comprising .a :metal .caphavingra top, .aehole in Said .top for receivingaid crowd'. a ,peripherallyjextendingfside wallfdependingfrfrom said-top andrfextending downwardly past .said iiange, .saidfside wall being,furcated lat its lower part and having curled furcations, a,fastening wire inthe curls vofv fsaid iurcations, lever mean s.- VAfor reducing the ,diameter -ofnsaidsfastening wrerto thereby 1Qek,.s aid elosure,undertheibeadat,theftop of .thegneck o'fa bottle, .andra relatively'lftard16nd,A said headscomprisiag enfantin 1,.' largripping member rhayinsifla :Shoulder :at .the lower-end :thereof for engagemenn with/the, upperV surface of the itgp nf-.saidmetal cap-and aurmterio alllof @complementary 3o ,shape .,to .saidazQlyfOnalprovini .luralitynf vteeth sx# v tending inwardly Afrom zthe ;int er r .wall Y:. oi said zannular gripping member, .said .teethhaying inwardly! Aand @upward- Vl "nclined lower VTfaces aand 'generally VhorizontalV upper .facegtsaidforown .extending lup.wardlytinto the :bore .of Y said Y gripping,n lerrllrer and said teethbeing 4embedded ,in

said crown, and Va dome rising from said gripping -mem- ,her land coveringlover the upper end otsaid head.

Y 3. A.plosure .for. the. neclrof abottlegcomprising a relalively soft .stopper-having@ externally Aribbed,--hnllfwv 40 axial extension, anoutstanding annularlflange at'the upper endi ofsaidfextens ion,V and ,a relatively thick-walledfhollow polygonal crown above V'said y .liang'e,Y 'a .secnring'niember comprising ametal capY having .a top,r al1ole in s aid top ...'fOr. ,receiving said ;.crown, a peripherally extending side ,wall depending .from said .top=. .and .extending-downward- .1y Vpast-said fiiangejsaid side wally-being furcated .at ,its `.lowerpartlandlhfaving, curled. ;vfur cations,f. a n isteningwire Iin the.o11-r1s lof .said :Ifurcationst .lever Ymeans ,for reducing ,the .diameter of said fasteningY ,wire Yto therebylock-said closureunder the A beati gatthegtop of the neck` 'cfa gbottle, and a relativelyir hard head,` :saidmhead comprising .;an Y annular gripping .member ,having ,aY shoulder at the slower end .thereof for engafgenfieritwith 4the uppegsu'rlfacer of the ytop ofsaid metalcapfand .an interior ,wallof acornple- *mentarytshapelto said lpolygonal crown, `a plurality of Y. lteeth .extending inwardly .from thev interior `wall of said .annular .gripping member,z said( :crown Eextending ,.upward- Y ;lyf 4into the Qbore of said .gripping 'member andsaid V,teeth .being embedded in said crown, and agdome rising from said gripping membenandovering over thezupperfend Aofsaid head. Y 'Y -relatively.s oft stopper .having a hollow axial extension, an' outstandingfannular ange at theupperend of said extension, and a relatively thicknvalled,.hollowpolygonal .crown .above said Y ange, a `securing member icomprising ametalcaphaving atop, a hole .insaid toprforreceiving 'from said top and extendingldownwardlymastsaidange, 70.}n 1eans for reducing thediameter of the lower ,partuof ".said. s ide `wall to thereby v:loclrsaid closurelunder .theghead at thertop ofrthe'necliofabottle,-and -a relativelyghard head, said'head Vcomprisingtanannular.gipping nneniber havinga.shoulder atfthe lowerendfthereofgforengagement .4. AA closure f orithe `neclr of apbottletcomprising .a

' Y.said crown, ya peripherally extending side .wall .depending an interior wall of a complementary shape to said polygonal crown, a plurality of teeth extending inwardly from the interior wall of said annular gripping member, said crown extending upwardly into the bore or' said gripping member and said teeth being embedded in said crown, and a dome rising from said gripping member and covering over the upper end of said head.

5. A closure for the neck of a bottle comprising a relatively soft stopper having a hollow axial extension, an outstanding annular ange at the upper end of said extension, and a relatively thick-walled, hollow polygonal crown above said ange, a securing member comprising a metal cap having atop, a hole in said top for receiving said crown, a peripherally extending side wall depending from said top and extending downwardly past said tlange, means for reducing the diameter of the lower part of said side wall to thereby lock said closure under the bead at the top of the neck of a bottle, and a relatively hard head, said head comprising an annular gripping member having a shoulder at the lower end thereof for engagement with the upper surface of the top of said metal cap and an interior wall of a complementary shape to said polygonal crown, a plurality of teeth extending inwardly from the interior wall of said annular gripping member, said crown extending upwardly into the bore of said gripping member and said teeth being embedded in said crown.

6. A closure for the neck of a bottle comprising a relatively soft stopper having an axial extension, an outstanding annular ange at the upper end of said extension, and a hollow polygonal crown above said flange, a securing member comprising a metal cap having a top, a hole in said top for receiving said crown, a peripherally extending side wall depending from said top and extending downwardly past said ange, means for reducing the diameter of the lower part of said side wall to thereby lock said closure under the bead at the top of the neck of a bottle, and a polystyrene head, said head comprising an annular gripping member having a shoulder at the lower end thereof -for engagement with the upper surface ofthe top of said metal cap and an interior wall of a complementary shape to said polygonal crown, a plurality of teeth extending inwardly vfrom the interior wall of said annular gripping member, said crown extending upwardly into the bore of said gripping member and said teeth being embedded in said crown.

7. A closure for the neck of a bottle comprising a relatively soft stopper having an axial extension, an outstanding annular ange at the upper end of said extension, and a hollow polygonal crown above said ange, a securing member comprising a metal cap having a top,

a hole in said top for receiving said crown, a peripherally extending side wall depending from said top and extending downwardly past said flange, means for reducing the diameter of the lower part of said side wall to thereby lock said closure under the bead at the top of the neck of a bottle, and a relatively hard head, said head comprising an annular gripping member having an interior wall of a complementary shape to said polygonal crown, a plurality of teeth extending inwardly from the interior wall of said annular gripping member, said crown extending upwardly into the bore of said gripping member and said teeth being embedded in said crown.

8. A closure Lfor the neck of a bottle comprising a relatively soft stopper having an axial extension, and a crown above said extension, a securing member comprising a metal cap having a top, a hole in said top for receiving said crown, a peripherally extending side wall depending from said top and extending downwardly, means for reducing the diameter of the lower part of said side wall to thereby lock said closure under the bead at the top of the neck of a bottle, and a relatively hard head, said head comprising an annular gripping member, a plurality of teeth extending inwardly from the interior wall of said annular gripping member, said crown extending upwardly into the bore of said gripping member and said teeth being embedded in said crown.

9. The `closure of claim 8, and means for preventing rotation of said head on said crown.

10. A closure for the neck of a bottle comprising a relatively soft stopper having an axial extension, and a crown above said extension, a securing member comprising metal cap having a top, a hole in said top receiving said crown, a peripherally extending side Wall depending from said top and extending downwardly, means for reducing the diameter of the lower part of said side wall to thereby lock said closure under the bead at the top of the neck of a bottle, and a relatively hard head above said securing member, said head comprising a gripping member having a bore receiving said crown, and means for preventing relative axial and rotational movement between said head and stopper.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,093,500 France Nov. 24, 1954 1,979,274 Le Pere Nov. 6, 1934 2,860,802 Gold Nov. 1s, 195s FOREIGN PATENTS 1,093,500 France Nov. 24, 1954 

